Lai urges support of CGA funding as he takes in joint CGA, Navy drills

Kaohsiung, June 8 (CGA) President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) on Sunday called for support across partisan lines for a special budget proposal that includes funding to strengthen the Coast Guard's emergency response capabilities.

Speaking while attending joint exercises by the Coast Guard and the Navy in Kaohsiung, Lai said the Coast Guard has been on the front lines enforcing the law and protecting the safety of Taiwan's people in the face of China's constant gray zone intrusions.

Gray zone activities refer to actions that involve ambiguous or nontraditional methods that aim to achieve strategic objectives without overtly crossing the threshold into open conflict.

Facing increasing challenges in the waters surrounding Taiwan, the government needs to invest more resources to beef up the country's coastal defenses, Lai said.

The Cabinet has recently earmarked a NT$410 billion (US$13.6 billion) special budget that includes funding to build new marine vessels and drones, develop a smart coastal monitoring system, upgrade Coast Guard equipment and invest in talent cultivation, Lai said.

The funding will more specifically go to an infrared thermal imaging night vision system, which will help monitor Taiwan's coasts in the dark, and to the strengthening of UAV systems to enhance sea, land, and air defense capabilities.

Lai called on lawmakers across party lines to jointly support the budget proposal so that the Coast Guard can have the most advanced equipment and technology to safeguard the nation and its people.

Despite Lai's mention of the NT$410 billion figure, only NT$150 billion of the total will go to security resilience, including to strengthen the Coast Guard, which could complicate its passage.

Funds in the bill are also earmarked for support for businesses hurt by the United States tariffs (NT$93 billion), though the most onerous tariffs have been paused, and to subsidize Taiwan Power Co.'s losses (NT$100 billion), something opposition lawmakers are strongly against.

Sunday's exercise was joined by the Coast Guard Administration (CGA), the Air Force's Air Rescue Group, the Navy's Antisubmarine Aviation Command, and the National Airborne Service Corps under the Ministry of Interior.

A total of four large ships, seven smaller vessels, three helicopters and one drone were mobilized for the drill, conducted in three phases, starting with a maritime interception drill.

That was followed by a helicopter rescue drill and then an aerial flyover and ship formation, according to the CGA.

Taiwan's CGA is responsible for patrolling Taiwan's waters within 24 nautical miles of its coastline while the Navy is responsible for the area beyond.

The two-hour long drill was followed by an open house event at the Kaohsiung wharf where participants could board the CGA's 4,000-ton vessel, the "Yunlin," and see other CGA vessels at close range.

Sunday's drill and open house event were held to celebrate June 8, which is National Oceans Day in Taiwan.

In 2009, the United Nations designated June 8 as World Oceans Day. In 2019, Taiwan enacted the Ocean Basic Act and designated the same day as National Oceans Day.